SMALL SATELLITE UTILIZATION

FOR
DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Dr. Ozlem ALBAYRAK
ozlem.albayrak@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Effective disaster management is a complex problem, because it involves many
parameters, which are usually not easy to measure and even identify: Analysis of current
situation, planning, optimum resource management, coordination, controlling and
monitoring current activities and making quick and correct decisions are only some of
these parameters, whose complete list is very long. Disaster Management Information
Systems (DMIS) assist disaster managers to analyze the situation better, make decisions
and suggest further actions following the existing emergency plans. This requires not
only fast and thorough processing and optimization abilities, but also real-time data
provided to the DMIS.
The need of DMIS for disaster’s real-time data can be satisfied by Small Satellites
data utilization. Small Satellites can provide up-to-date data, plus a better media to
transfer data.
This paper suggests a rationale and a framework for utilization of Small Satellite
data by DMIS. DMIS should be used “before”, “during” and “after” the disasters. Data
provided by the Small Satellites are almost crucial in any period of the disasters,
because early warning can save lives, and Satellite data may help to identify disasters
before they occur. The paper also presents “when”, “where” and “how” Small Satellite
data should be used by DMIS.

1. INTRODUCTION
Most of the disasters are unavoidable, yet regardless of the reasons of the disasters, the
unwanted results, (harm and loss), of the disasters can be avoided when necessary
actions are performed [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Effective disaster management activities follow
a cycle of four phases: Preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. For each and
every phase of the effective disaster management, Disaster Management Information
Systems (DMIS) can be utilized for better managing the very complex catastrophic
conditions, which are complex problems for the disaster managers.
After providing brief information regarding DMIS, the paper provides utilization
opportunities of small satellites for disaster management. In addition, a framework to
show “when”, “where” and “how” to use the space technology for disaster management
purposes is also provided.
2. DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
In its simplest and broadest definition, a DMIS is an information system developed and
used for disaster management purposes. To support various types of DMIS users
(ranging from the operators to the incident command manager), the DMIS that is
referred to by this paper possesses the above definition specifications, furthermore it
keeps track of data and information regarding the following functional areas
− Disasters of all types (parameters and models to support disaster simulations),
− Resources inventory,
− Vulnerables (of all forms, assets, values and functions),
− Treaths and weaknesses, their indicators, and interpreters,
− Geographical Information System data for the disaster area,
− Emergency response, mitigation and recovery plans,
− Crisis management and monitoring,
− Task assignment at all phases of disaster management.
The technical specifications that should be satisfied by means of DMIS can be
grouped as follows:
− Mobility (DMIS should be used as place independent),
− Flexibility (DMIS should be flexible and generic enough to support all types of
possible disasters),
− High Performance (Time is very crucial in disaster management, DMIS should
be fast),
− Continuity (DMIS should work continuously without failure),
− Open (DMIS may need to communicate with other systems thus it should
provide open standards communication),
− Scalability (DMIS should respond effectively to requests of all scales).

Having clarified what is meant by DMIS in this study, following section presents use
of satellites by DMIS.

3. SMALL SATELLITES UTILIZATION BY DMIS

There are many application areas for satellite utilization [6] [7]. Being one of these
areas, disaster management utilizes satellite technology for various purposes, ranging
from planning to monitoring, mitigation and post-disaster evaluation.
Utilization of satellite technology for disaster management is not a new topic [8] [9]
[10] [11]. However, it is still a hot topic due to recent improvements in the technology
and presented advantages of satellites usage for disaster management [12] [13] [14] [15]
[16] [17] [18] [19] [28]. Some of these studies focuses on one respect of satellite
utilization in disaster management: Satellite communication [20] [21]. There are also
studies regarding small satellites usage in disaster management [22] [23] [24] [25].
In order to present a framework for small satellites utilization for DMIS, following
dimensions of disaster management will be defined:
 − Disaster type (Natural and technological types of disasters origins, e. g.
Earthquake, flood, fire, NBC, terrorist activities, etc.),
− Time (before, during and after disaster situation),
− Functionality (Preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery),
− Scale (level of disaster management for different scales, e. g. enterprise,
provincial, regional, national, international, global).

SCALE (Global, International, National, Regional, Provincial)

TYPE (natural and technological)

TIME (before, during, after)

FUNCTIONALITY (planning, monitoring, mitigation, etc.

DMIS
Figure 1. Utilization of Small Satellites at Four Dimensions of Disaster Management

Figure 1 aims to present the utilization areas of small satellites for DMIS, regarding
the four dimensions in disaster management type, time, functionality and scale as
defined above. The figure suggests that small satellites can be utilized for all types of
disaster, for every time period of the disaster, and for every functionality of disaster
management. As for the scale dimension, it is not very effective to suggest use of
satellites for homeland security, or enterprise level disaster management. Better results
can be obtained if small satellites are used for larger scale disasters, like international
and global.

Integrated use of small satellite system may support international even global
disaster management, and thus may reduce unwanted effects of disasters, saving many
lives and resources. Recent trends are in parallel to the above suggestion. Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is a program aiming to pool all national and
regional observation data within the next ten years. Once in place, information would be
available instantaneously to all countries. It is stated that if such a network had already
been in place, tens of thousands of lives lost during the Indian Ocean tsunami strikes on
December 26 might have been saved [27].

4. CONCLUSION
This extended abstract briefly explains DMIS and satellite utilization for disaster
management. It suggests a framework for utilization areas of small satellites in disaster
management. According to the dimensions depicted for disaster management, small
satellites can be used:
 − Time: All time periods of disasters (i.e. before, during and after disasters)
− Type: All possible types of disasters originated from natural and technological or
human factors
− Functionality: Almost every function of disaster management can be served via
small satellites
− Space: Serving large scale disaster management is more preferred to serving
small scale levels.

Full-size study deals with more details of the above statements, identifying specific
areas of use with supporting samples, and presenting areas of future studies.

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